settled, some districts
are considering idea
FRHSD board discusses
use of random drug tests
With legal question
settled, some districts
are considering idea
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
The superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District has three concerns regarding random drug testing: money, responsibility and intervention or treatment.
"If that burden is put upon the schools, I see it bankrupting the educational philosophy of every school system throughout this country," said Superintendent of Schools James Wasser.
After participating in the National School Boards audio conference on drug testing in the school, Wasser noted, at the Sept. 22 FRHSD Board of Education meeting, that the U.S. Supreme Court and the state Supreme Court have ruled that there is a more expanded policy for school districts, and school districts can now randomly test students.
"We do not do that," he said.
The FRHSD consists of six high schools and 11,000 students from eight western Monmouth County communities.
Wasser said some school districts are considering a random drug testing program now that the practice has been deemed legal. He said he wanted to know what the FRHSD board members thought about the topic.
The superintendent said there seems to be a movement on to increase random testing, and he said he was concerned that although it’s not a mandate, there is an expense involved.
"This will be another service that the school would provide and where does the parents’ responsibility kick in?" he asked.
At the present time, he said, the district can take certain actions if there is reasonable suspicion that a student is under the influence of drugs. In those cases, students are taken out and sent for drug tests.
The only people who are tested are the bus drivers, because of the safety sensitive position, the superintendent said. He also noted that in some cases, parents and their children who came to the testing facility were told not to return, due to poor attitudes and behavior at the testing locations.
Wasser said the aim is to assist the student in getting the help that is needed.
"Where is the parents’ responsibility?" he said. "Is this another issue being given to the schools?"
The superintendent said school nurses do not have the time or the facilities to do full-time drug testing.
"There may also be legal ramifications," he said. "People tend to sue when something is in error."
Board member Terry Kraft of Howell said random testing is the best deterrent in industry because no one knows when it is going to happen. Kraft said he has not made up his mind if it is the right thing to do in school.
Board member Chris Placitella of Colts Neck said that last year the board was given information regarding the scope of the district’s substance abuse situation. He said would like to see updated figures.
"Last year we were looking at one in 10 children who were involved in drug or alcohol counseling," said Placitella. "That was alarmingly high. I know there has been a lot of effort over the last year to address those issues and see how much better we’re doing."
Wasser interjected, The conference statistics indicated that one out of every two students has used a drug before graduating high school. Alcohol was included in the figure.
Board member Diana Cappiello of Englishtown said she did not see how random testing would be a deterrent.
Board member Marlene Caruso of Freehold Township, who is a member of the Freehold Community Alliance, which works to educate people about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, said the numbers are going up, but that random testing is not a deterrent.
Board member Bernice Hammer of Freehold Borough said the district has a policy that is working. She said she is concerned about the civil rights of people who would be randomly tested.
Board member Bonnie Rosenwald of Marlboro said she is concerned about the drug problem. She said the district has a policy which is followed and questioned whether random testing would be a deterrent.
"If it were my child, fine," she said. "Drug test my child. I’d be the first one in line."
Rosenwald said she wants input from the principals and drug officers to guide the board members so they can decide which direction to take.
Board member Ronald G. Lawson of Howell said that what serves as a deterrent is seeing the effect of someone being caught.
"How you get caught is not as important as the fact that you got caught, and your friends saw you suffer the consequences," Lawson said. "Lacking any data that we are failing in our efforts to address the situation, I would be hesitant to go forward with any program of random testing."
Board member Kathie Lavin of Farmingdale agreed, saying, "I don’t believe testing is the answer. More responsibility should be put on the parent. The parent should put them in a program."
Wasser concluded the discussion by stating, "What bothers me is when people say there’s a drug problem in [our] schools. The drug problem is not in the schools. It’s in the entire community. We just happen to be [located there] in the community."
In other matters, Wasser reported on the final stages of construction at Freehold Borough High School, noting that the roofing project is continuing.
He also explained why schools were closed on Sept. 19, the day after Tropical Storm Isabel passed through parts of New Jersey.
"We were told [by the police chief] that we should close Freehold Borough High School for unsafe conditions (downed trees and electric wires)," he said.
Wasser said one regional high school cannot be closed by itself; all six must be closed due to busing patterns and specialized programs.